December 2024 Contractor of the Month is: ZLM Services

Can you tell us about your business?

ZLM Services is an outdoor luxury builder, from the pool to the lighting to managing and furnishing, we handle it all. We are experts in exterior living spaces. Licensed builders who started in landscaping and have expanded over the years to full build and design.

How did you get into the landscape lighting business?

Building landscapes we saw a need for lighting, being able to show off our amazing work at all times of the day. I like quality and lighting adds that final touch.

What percentage of your business is landscape lighting/what other services do you provide (ie: landscaping, irrigation, electrical…)?

Every project we incorporate lighting in it, its hard to put an exact number on it but over the 150 projects per year around 80% of the clients want and get lighting packages.

How long have you been installing landscape lighting?

We have been installing well over 15 years maybe closer to 20 years. It's been a longtime passion of mine.

What AMP products do you prefer to use? Which fixtures are your favorite?

The most popular is the DescentPro and SoftwashPro hardscape fixtures. We love using the PolynesianPro and MagnumPro Path and Area lights.v

What tips or tricks have you learned that have benefited your work from a design/installation perspective?

From a longevity standpoint using high quality wire and cable and making a super strong connection makes the difference. I use strong connectors, and super strong brass or stainless steel mounting options. We make sure we install to the highest quality and that keeps call backs almost non-existent.

Tell me about your sales process. How do you find your customers? What is your sales process? Do you use sales tools such as a free demo…

We utilize a marketing company; we don’t do much else besides some local marketing. Our website and marketing team account for most of our customer base acquisition.

Where do you find inspiration for your lighting designs?

When we sell a job we talk to the customers about budget and many things. Once we figure out that we find the best solution within that budget. We use 3D modeling and create renderings that help me showcase the results. This helps us curate and create custom lighting built for the customer, custom to their needs.

What do you feel is the most personally rewarding part of installing a lighting system for a client?

When you go to the home for the first and turn the lights on and see the clients eyes light up, no pun intended. It’s the best feeling watching the home and landscaping transform into its nighttime esthetic, it’s very rewarding and makes everything come to life.

Tell us a little bit about you personally: What do you like to do outside of work? What are your hobbies?

Work is a hobby to me, especially what we do! I like to go out on the boat and four wheeling, snowmobiling, bon fires. I like to enjoy the outdoors and anything that goes fast!